Chinese Steel
Balls help relieve the body of stress.
Originally produced in Baoding, China, Chinese Steel Balls help relieve the body of stress. Originally made of iron, these Baoding Balls--as they are also called--are now hollow and made from chrome-plated steel. They are used for exercise, meditation and other medical reasons. The motion exercises hand muscles, forearm and shoulder muscles. The manipulation also uses the body's pressure points to relive pain and stress--much like acupuncture. Essentially it massages the muscles and ligaments of the hands.
Instructions
1. Select the appropriately sized Chinese Steel Balls. The size is related to the size of your hand. A larger hand needs a larger ball. A child's hand may require a 30 mm ball; whereas, an adult woman on average may require between a 35 mm and a 40 mm ball. Smaller balls are also better for beginners.
2. Warm up first. Rub your hands together, circulating the blood. Make a fist and release. Now repeat. Rub your feet--top and bottom--with your hands. Again, you want to get the blood circulating.
3. Place the two balls in the palm of your right hand. Rub the balls between your index finger and thumb. Rotate them in a clockwise direction. Try not to hit them against each other. Repeat with the left hand. Once you have the first direction mastered, rotate them in a counterclockwise direction in your right hand. Repeat again with your left hand.
4. Sit naturally on a chair or couch, keeping your thighs parallel to the floor. Place a mat on the floor beneath you. Place the balls--one or both--under the arch of your right foot. Rotate your foot in a clockwise motion, then a counterclockwise motion. Keep the balls in motion. Repeat with the left foot.
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